Apparatus for cleaning automatic transmission converter



F. FOLEY Sept. 17, 1963 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONVERTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1962 #10612. FeAA/c/yfazzv BY g mm "III I H I!!! III 1.

'lllll' Sept. 17, 1963 F. FOLEY 3,103,937

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONVERTER Filed Jan. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYENTOR FeAA/c/s F045) AX 6. klfimw k 6- ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,103,937 APPARATUS FUR CLEANING AUTQMATI TRANSMESSIUN CUNVERTER Francis Foley, 2952 Aceca Drive, Los Alamitos, Calif. Filed Jan. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 164,926 4 Claims. (Cl. 134-111) This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning automatic transmissions and has for an object to provide simple and improved means for flushing the interior of automatic transmissions while rotating the turbine relative to the stator. The invention, therefore, efiects cleaning of a transmission while the same is in slow operation simulating the relative rotation of the parts when in normal engine-driven operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character above referred to that is adapted to flush and clean automatic transmissions of the torque converter type, for instance, either when removed from its normal operative position or while in said operative position, as desired, the apparatus providing turbine rotation in either of said positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for cleaning converter assemblies that holds the stator of such an assembly stationary while rotating the turbine thereof.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description and which is based on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following'description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of apparatus according to the present invention, the converter mounting head being omitted.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section view as taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1 with the converter mounting head in position to effect an off-car cleaning of a transmission.

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged sectional View of converter-engaging and -fiushing means, the same being part of the mounting head.

The apparatus that is illustrated comprises, generally, a portable cabinet 5 incorporating a stand 6, a combined solvent storage and filter 7 housed in said cabinet, said cabinet also housing feed means 8 for drawing solvent from the storage 7 and a device 9 for removing metal particles from the how of solvent from said storage, a mounting plate 10 on the stand 6 for mounting a torque converter 11 or similar transmission device, converterengaging and -flushing means 12 connected to the plate 10, and means 13 for operating said means 12 to cause rotation of the turbine :14 and hold stationary or center the stator 15 of said converter during circulation of solvent therethrough.

The cabinet 5 is mounted on caster wheels 16 and axlemounted wheels 17 so as to be readily movable from place to place. As shown, said cabinet is provided with an enclosure 18 having a floor 19 and a top 20 that is designed as a tray. Said top is provided with a drain fitting 20a. Access to the enclosure 18 may be had through front doors 21 which are shown open in FIG. 1.

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The stand 6 extends above the cabinet top 20 and is shown with a top tray 22 carried by side wall extensions 23 and a rear wall extension 24. It will be clear that the stand 6 includes the top wall 21 and comprises a front-open area for accommodating a converter 11. FIG. 2 shows a converter in position.

The combined solvent storage and filter 7 is shown as a storage tank 25 disposed on the cabinet floor 19 and having an open top, and a filter unit 26 across said tank top in position to receive flow from the drain fitting 21. The purpose of the filter unit is to intercept the larger metal particles that may be flushed out of the converter by the circulating solvent. Any suitable screen mesh and felt layer filter unit may be used so that the solvent returning to the tank 25 is filtered of all except the most minute particles in the flow. Said tank is provided with an outlet 27 preferably from the lower end thereof.

The feed means 8 comprises a unit having a commercial rotary pump 28 driven by an electric motor 29. The outlet 27 is connected to the inlet side of said pump, a pipe 30 serving as the outlet at a pressure sufiicient to establish a flushing flow such as herein contemplated.

The device 9 is shown as a strainer designed to remove the finer metal particles from the flow, the pipe 30 constituting the inlet for said strainer'and a pipe 31 being the outlet. The latter pipe passes through the cabinet top 26 and is quite long and flexible so it may conduct solvent to the converter-engaging and -flushing means 12 whether the latter is engaged with a converter in position on the stand 6 or engaged with a converter still in place in an auto or truck.

The mounting plate 10 is supported on the stand 6 preferably in the sloping position shown in FIG. 2. Said plate serves to hold a converter 11 in off-ear position during a cleaning operation. Of course, if the converter is being cleaned while still in position in the vehicle, the plate 19 is not needed in the operation. A set of guide pins 32 extends from plate 10 for locating a converter 11 disposed on said plate so that a drain 33 thereof may discharge through an opening 34 in said plate and onto the tray top 20.

The means 12 is shown as a plate 35 that is mounted on the guide pins 32 in spaced parallelism to the plate 10, a housing 36 secured to said plate 35 as by bolts 37 and having an interior chamber 38' that discharges through an axial passage 39, an L fitting 40 connected to the plate 35 and connected to the pipe 31 to conduct solvent flowing in said pipe to the chamber 38, a fixed, hollow stud 41 extending from plate 35 axially through the passage 39, a splined end 42 on the end of said stud and adapted to connect with similar splines provided in the stator 15 of the converter, a driven shaft 43 extending axially through the hollow of stud '41, a splined end 44 on the end of shaft 43 and adapted to connect with similar splines provided in the turbine 14 of said converter.

The housing 36 has a ihub 45 that defines the passage 39, said hub mounting a compressible ring 46 against which the end 47 of the converter is adapted to be fitted so that the latter receives flow from passage 39. In the present instance, holes 48 in the hollow stud 41 pass such flow into the interior hollow 49 of said stud, such flow, thereby, being directed to the space 50 between the turbine 14 and the stator 15.

A seal 51 may be provided between the shaft 43 and the plate 35. Also, a slinger 52 may be provided to prevent splash of leaking solvent.

The means 13 is shown as an electric motor 53 that, by means of a bracket 54, is carried by the plate 35, and a flexible drive coupling 55 connecting the shaft of said motor with the driven shaft 43.

Whether the converter 11 is in off-car or on-car position, the flow of solvent entering space 50 and other intenior spaces of the converter flushes said spaces while the motor 53 rotates the turbine 14. This flush flow exits from the converter by way of the drain 33 or other such outlets, falls into the tray wall 20 and drains through fitting 200 into the filter 26 and therethrough, into the tank 25. The means 8 circulates this flow as long as needed to effect thorough flush cleaning of the converter.

In the form of the invention described above, the stator is held stationary by the splines of (the hub 41, only the turbine turning. Another way of obtaining relative rotation of the turbine and stator is to drive the turbine as before but to allow the stator freedom to rotate although not driven. To this end, the splines of hub end 42 may be omitted, leaving a smooth pilot end that fits into the splined hole of the stator. Consequently, the stator may turn freely but is held centered by the pilot end of the hub.

By providing a reversing motor 53 the turbine may be rotated in either direction or partly in one and partly in the other direction.

During on-car flushing, a length of flexible hose is used to return the drain flow from drain 33 of the converter to the tray wall 20. Otherwise, the circulation is the same as above described.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without depanting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning an automatic transmission having a stator portion and a relatively rotational turbine, said apparatus comprising (a) means to conduct a flow of cleaning solvent to the interior of the transmission,

(b) means to circulate said flow and to filter the same,

(c) means to rotate the turbine during such circulation,

(d) a stand to support the transmission during solvent circulation and including a tray to receive the discharge of cleaning solvent from the transmission,

(e) a drain from said tray to the flow-circulating means,

(f) a reversing electric motor, and

(g) a shaft driven by said motor having a splined end for rotational engagement with the turbine of the transmission.

2. In apparatus for cleaning automatic transmissions,

(a) a mount for a transmission to hold the same stationary,

(b) a fixed hollov. hub extending from said mount into the transmission to engage a stator therein,

(c) a shaft extending axially through the hollow of the hub to engage a turbine in said transmission, and

(d) means to conduct cleaning fluid through the hollow of said hub to circulate between and around the stator and turbine of the transmission.

3. In apparatus according to claim 2, means carried by said mount to receive pressure flow of cleaning fluid that is conducted by the last-mentioned means.

4. In apparatus according to claim 2, means carried by said mount to receive pressure flow of cleaning fluid that is conducted by the last-mentioned means, said flowreceiving means comprising a hollow housing through the axis of which said hub extends, the housing having an end in sealing engagement with a transmission.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,549,952 Anderson Aug. 18, 1925 1,766,208 Anstiss June 24, 1930 2,876,488 Zebarth Mar. 10, 1959 3,027,590 Helm Apr. 3, 1962 

2. IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, (A) A MOUNT FOR A TRANSMISSION TO HOLD THE SAME STATIONARY, (B) A FIXED HOLLOW HUB EXTENDING FROM SAID MOUNT INTO THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE A STATOR THEREIN, (C) A SHAFT EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH THE HOLLOW OF THE HUB TO ENGAGE A TURBINE IN SAID TRANSMISSION, AND (D) MEANS TO CONDUCT CLEANING FLUID THROUGH THE HOLLOW OF SAID HUB TO CIRCULATE BETWEEN AND AROUND THE STATOR AND TURBINE OF THE TRANSMISSION. 